Pollutants in surface water and groundwater

I voted in favor of the report on the proposal for a directive establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy and the protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration. This new Commission proposal presents a revision of the Water Framework Directive, as well as its two “daughter” directives, the Groundwater Directive and the Environmental Quality Standards Directive, with the aim of improving EU water legislation to achieve its overall objective of protecting human health and natural ecosystems from toxic pollutants.

The increasing presence of chemicals in the natural environment, which is mainly due to industrial, chemical, pharmaceutical or agricultural activities, poses a threat to human health as well as to the aquatic environment, and also has serious repercussions in terms of loss of habitats and biodiversity.

Environmental quality standards (EQS) should be stricter for pesticides, particularly glyphosate, and for pharmaceuticals. Since all key legislation on dangerous substances falls under Union competence, the Commission should be obliged to propose action at EU level whenever individual Member States fail to meet the EQS.

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